Magical Mirrors of the Past Get a Modern Makeover

There is nothing more tranquil than a leisurely stroll through the garden, catching hints of bright light and color bouncing gaily around the foliage; like dancing fireflies, glass gazing balls sparkle and glimmer with reflected and captured light.

Whether they are nestled among groundcover like bright and shiny Easter eggs or hanging from trees like sparkling dewdrops, glass gazing balls are hard to beat for the bright and vibrant color they provide. Their reflective properties are second to none. Today’s gazing balls are made of reinforced glass that is much stronger than the glass used years ago. Even the paint used inside the gazing ball today is more durable, retaining its color and vibrancy longer.

While some people prefer steel or plastic gazing balls because they’ve been given the impression that these materials won’t “break,” what you may be gaining in questionable resilience you are sacrificing in luminescent allure. Plastic gazing balls will blow off pedestals just as easily as glass, and both plastic and metal gazing balls will get dents and scratches. They are not impervious to weathering.

Glass gazing balls offer the best reflection quality and iridescent glowing color. However, these tender beauties are fragile and need a bit more attention than standard stainless steel or plastic gazing balls.

Ideally, if you plan on displaying a glass gazing ball on a pedestal, it would be useful to use double-sided tape to help hold the gazing ball to the pedestal should a gust of wind come visiting. For more wind resistance, consider Velcro strips. Simply place one on the gazing ball and one on the pedestal and lock into place. You won’t see the strips, and this extra bit of enforcement will offer added protection on those windy days.

It’s important that the glass gazing ball be sealed. If it’s not sealed, condensation, dirt and other contaminants can enter the gazing ball and can cause the finish to crack, peel and discolor. The whole purpose of having a gazing ball of glass is the inherent ability of glass to reflect and capture light, much like a miniature mirror. Every glass gazing ball is hand-blown and the finish is applied within the inside of the gazing ball. If it is left unsealed, no matter how fine the initial paint job, the finish will deteriorate.

There’s a wide array of attractive finishes now available for globe enthusiasts. Everything from crackled, swirled, rippled, opalescent and iridescent to dimpled soap bubble finishes! These gazing balls are noted more for their color than their reflective properties. If you absolutely can’t live without the reflective properties of glass, your best bet is to stay with gazing balls of solid color for maximum reflective qualities (the lighter the color, the better).

A Few Decorative Ideas:

Have a pool, pond or water feature? Place gazing balls of the same color family in the water for a monochromatic “bubble” effect. Perfect for nighttime parties and get-togethers. Place small torches or candles around the water and the light from the candles will be reflected on the surface of the gazing balls for a breathtaking and novel display.

Place different-sized gazing balls in small groupings among ground cover and flower beds. It’s wonderful to see a peek of color between the green! Consider going “complementary” in your gazing ball placement. If you have a flower bed that is primarily filled with yellow blooms, a violet grouping of small glass gazing balls will perfectly accent and complement the yellow.

Hang the gazing balls from trees. You just won’t believe the enchanted atmosphere you can create by simply hanging the gazing balls at different levels on the branches of a tree. If your gazing balls don’t have stems, you can use very fine, invisible netting, available at most arts and crafts stores to hold the gazing balls. Be careful that you don’t over do it. You don’t want it to look too loud and flashy; you are re-creating a wondrous, “otherworldly” feel. Subtlety is key.

Copyright 2006 www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer